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Hajek A. Editorial: Correlates of loneliness and social isolation in old age. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2024; 125:105528. [PMID: 38879349 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2024.105528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, Hamburg, Germany.
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Masoudi N, Sarbazi E, Soleimanpour H, Abbasian M, Ghasemi M, Rostami Z, Azizi H, Soleimanpour M. Loneliness and its correlation with self-care and activities of daily living among older adults: a partial least squares model. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:621. [PMID: 39033280 PMCID: PMC11265058 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05215-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The growing elderly population worldwide is accompanied by an increased disrupting daily activities and self-care. Neglecting the multifaceted needs of the elderly can lead to detrimental effects such as loneliness or social isolation, threatening healthy aging. Self-care is a key strategy to enhance daily functioning and mitigate feelings of loneliness among the elderly. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the feelings of loneliness and its relationship with self-care and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) among the older adults of Tabriz city. METHODS In this observational cross-sectional study, we engaged 315 older adults using a simple random sampling. Participants were selected randomly from Iran's Integrated Health System (IIHS) framework. Three questionnaires including de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Persian version of self-care scale, and ADL-Katz were used for data collection. The Partial Least Squares and Spearman's correlation were used to investigate the relationships between demographic characteristics, loneliness, self-care, and ADL. RESULTS The sample comprised 315 respondents 51.1% were female, 49.5% had a middle school literacy and 86% were married. A significant negative relationship was observed between loneliness and self-care (P < 0.001 and r =-0.311). Demographic characteristics, including age and marital status, were found to negatively moderate the relationship between self-care (path coefficient - 0.07, P = 0.044) and positively moderate the relationship with loneliness (path coefficient 0.29, p < 0.001). ADL was positively associated with self-care (path coefficient 0.41, p = 0.046) and also a direct and significant relationship was observed between ADL and daily self-care (P < 0.001 and r = 0.335). CONCLUSION This study underscores the complex interplay between loneliness, self-care, and ADL. It highlights the need for interventions that address emotional health and daily living skills as part of comprehensive self-care strategies. Further research is needed to explore these relationships in more detail and to develop targeted interventions for different demographic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Masoudi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Sarbazi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hassan Soleimanpour
- Medical Philosophy and History Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Mehdi Abbasian
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Masouma Ghasemi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zahra Rostami
- Student Research Committee, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Hosein Azizi
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Maryam Soleimanpour
- Clinical Research Development Unit of Tabriz Valiasr Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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Stegen H, Duppen D, Savieri P, Stas L, Pan H, Aartsen M, Callewaert H, Dierckx E, De Donder L. Loneliness prevalence of community-dwelling older adults and the impact of the mode of measurement, data collection, and country: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int Psychogeriatr 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38525677 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610224000425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the prevalence of loneliness in many countries worldwide which have different ways of assessing it. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING We searched seven electronic databases for English peer-reviewed studies published between 1992 and 2021. PARTICIPANTS We selected English-language peer-reviewed articles, with data from non-clinical populations of community-dwelling older adults (>60 years), and with "loneliness" or "lonely" in the title. MEASUREMENTS A multilevel random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the prevalence of loneliness across studies and to pool prevalence rates for different measurement instruments, data collection methods, and countries. RESULTS Our initial search identified 2,021 studies of which 45 (k = 101 prevalence rates) were included in the final meta-analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence rate was 31.6% (n = 168,473). Measurement instrument was a statistically significant moderator of the overall prevalence of loneliness. Loneliness prevalence was lowest for single-item questions and highest for the 20-item University of California-Los Angeles Loneliness Scale. Also, differences between modes of data collection were significant: the loneliness prevalence was significantly the highest for face-to-face data collection and the lowest for telephone and CATI data collection. Our moderator analysis to look at the country effect indicated that four of the six dimensions of Hofstede also caused a significant increase (Power Distance Index, Uncertainty Avoidance Index, Indulgence) or decrease (Individualism) in loneliness prevalence. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that there is high variability in loneliness prevalence rates among community-dwelling older adults, influenced by measurement instrument used, mode of data collection, and country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannelore Stegen
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daan Duppen
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Perseverence Savieri
- Core facility - Support for Quantitative and Qualitative Research (SQUARE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lara Stas
- Core facility - Support for Quantitative and Qualitative Research (SQUARE), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Honghui Pan
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Brussels Interdisciplinary Research centre on Migration and Minorities (BIRMM), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marja Aartsen
- Norwegian Social Research, OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hannelore Callewaert
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eva Dierckx
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Alexianen Zorggroep Tienen, Psychiatric Clinic, Tienen, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth De Donder
- Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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Park K, Chang H, Hong JP, Kim MH, Park S, Jung JY, Kim D, Hahm BJ, An JH. The Effect of Time Spent on Online Gaming on Problematic Game Use in Male: Moderating Effects of Loneliness, Living Alone, and Household Size. Psychiatry Investig 2024; 21:181-190. [PMID: 38433417 PMCID: PMC10910165 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2023.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the association between gaming time and problematic game use (PGU) within a large sample of Korean male gamers and to examine the potential moderating effects of loneliness, living alone, and household size. METHODS This study employed data from 743 male gamers from the National Mental Health Survey 2021, a nationally representative survey of mental illness conducted in South Korea. Self-reported data on the average gaming time per day, severity of PGU, loneliness, living alone, and household size were used. RESULTS Gaming time was positively associated with PGU and this relationship was significantly moderated by loneliness such that the positive effect of gaming time on PGU was greater when the levels of loneliness were high. The three-way interaction effect of gaming time, loneliness, and living alone was also significant, in that the moderating effect of loneliness on the relationship between gaming time and PGU was significant only in the living alone group. However, household size (i.e., number of housemates) did not moderate the interaction between gaming time and loneliness among gamers living with housemates. CONCLUSION These results suggest the importance of considering loneliness and living arrangements of male gamers, in addition to gaming time, in identifying and intervening with individuals at heightened risk of PGU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyeongwoo Park
- Department of Psychology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyein Chang
- Department of Psychology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Pyo Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung Hyun Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohee Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Young Jung
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dahae Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Jin Hahm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyun An
- Department of Psychiatry, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Xie X, Qiao X, Huang CC, Cheung SP. Mindfulness and loneliness in retired older adults in China: mediation effects of positive and negative affect. Aging Ment Health 2024; 28:188-195. [PMID: 37493469 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2240261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Objectives: Drawing from the mindfulness framework and the broaden-and-build theory, this study investigates the extent to which mindfulness influences loneliness and whether the relation is mediated by positive and negative affect.Method: Data were collected from 748 retired older adults aged 60 and above in Chengdu, China in 2022. Loneliness and mindfulness were measured by the UCLA loneliness scale and by the short-form version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, while the positive and negative affect was assessed by the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.Results: The results of this study show that mindfulness was positively associated with positive affect (β = 0.37, p<.001), negatively related to negative affect (β=-0.21, p<.001) and loneliness (β=-0.13, p<.001), and had an indirect effect on loneliness via positive and negative affect (β=-0.20, p<.001).Conclusion: The findings suggest that mindfulness could be a positive resource for improving mental health and reducing loneliness among retired older adults in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Xie
- Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance & Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Xingyong Qiao
- Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance & Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
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Xie X, Huang C, Sitar S, Qiao X. Community engagement and loneliness in older adults in China: mediation effects of social support in the wake of COVID-19. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1199577. [PMID: 38106887 PMCID: PMC10722421 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1199577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Loneliness is a key indicator of well-being in older adults. Drawing from the ecological model of aging, the active aging perspective, and the convoy model of social relations, this study investigates the extent community engagement influences loneliness and whether the relationship is mediated by social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Data was collected from 1,067 retired older adults in a cross-sectional design in Chengdu, China in 2022. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects of community engagement on loneliness through the hypothesized mediator of social support. Results The results show community engagement was positively associated with social support (β = 0.26, p < 0.001) and social support was negatively related to loneliness (β = -0.41, p < 0.001). Social support fully mediated the relationship between community engagement and loneliness. Additionally, community engagement had an indirect effect on loneliness via social support (β = -0.11, p < 0.001). Discussion The findings from the moderation analysis suggests community engagement and social support are likely to have large effects on loneliness for older adults over the age of 70 and who have low educational attainment. The findings suggest community engagement could be an important factor for improving social support and reducing loneliness amongst retired, older adults in China, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic where millions of individuals were isolated for extended periods of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Xie
- Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chienchung Huang
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Sophie Sitar
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Xingyong Qiao
- Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Rosenberg D, Shiovitz-Ezra S, Ayalon L. Helps you, helps me? Provision of instrumental and personal care and loneliness among adults aged 50 years and older during the COVID-19 pandemic. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2023; 113:105065. [PMID: 37224691 PMCID: PMC10199486 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2023.105065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To examine the association between provision of instrumental and personal care, and loneliness in adults aged 50 years and older during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instrumental care referred to the provision of assistance with obtaining necessary or essential products and/or services, whereas personal care referred to the assistance with daily life activities or the provision of emotional support. Social capital and caregiver stress theories served as the study's theoretical framework. MATERIALS AND METHODS The data were obtained from the two COVID-19 waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) conducted in 2020 and 2021. The data were analyzed using logistic regression models. The analytical sample consisted of 48,722 adults in the abovementioned age bracket residing in Europe and Israel. RESULTS Providing instrumental care negatively related to loneliness. Providing instrumental care to a single category of people negatively related to loneliness, whereas providing personal care to multiple categories of people positively related to loneliness. Providing personal care to children positively related to loneliness. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that different types of care provision correspond differently to the experience of loneliness while partially supporting both theoretical frameworks. Moreover, care indicators correspond differently to loneliness. The results imply that for a better understanding of the link between care provision and loneliness in later life, various parameters as well as various types of care provision should be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Rosenberg
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus 91905-IL, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Sharon Shiovitz-Ezra
- Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus 91905-IL, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Liat Ayalon
- Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Cao W, Cao C, Ren B, Yang J, Chen R, Hu Z, Bai Z. Complex association of self-rated health, depression, functional ability with loneliness in rural community-dwelling older people. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:267. [PMID: 37142945 PMCID: PMC10157949 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-03965-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to explore whether and how self-rated health, depression and functional ability interactively associated with loneliness using a sample group of older adults residing in China rural communities. METHODS Data on socio-demographic information, self-rated health, depressive symptoms, functional ability and loneliness (quantified via a single question) were collected from 1009 participants. Cross-tabulations with chi-square test, bivariate correlations, and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) models were employed for analysis. RESULTS We found that 45.1% of the participants were classified as lonely. Our results gain insight into the hierarchical order of predictors for the presence of loneliness, suggesting that there was a significant interaction between functional ability and depressive symptoms while self-rated health was not a significant factor. The probability of loneliness increased with the combination of limited functional ability and depression, and varied with different interaction of functional ability, depressive symptoms, and marital status, respectively. Notably, while there were some differences, similar associations were observed among older male and female respondents. CONCLUSION To delay or reduce loneliness, early detection which focuses on older people who report limitations in functional ability, depression, and being female, offers opportunities to start early interventions. Our findings might be helpful not only in designing and implementing loneliness prevention programs but also in improving healthcare for older rural community-dwelling people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Cao
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Chenglin Cao
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Bohua Ren
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1QU, UK
| | - Jing Yang
- Educational Institute of behavioral medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China
| | - Ruoling Chen
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1QU, UK
| | - Zhi Hu
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Zhongliang Bai
- Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
- Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, WV1 1QU, UK.
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Ezeokonkwo FC, Sekula KL, Stokes JE, Theeke LA, Zoucha R, Troutman-Jordan M, Sharma D. Relationships between Interpersonal Goals and Loneliness in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1914. [PMID: 36767280 PMCID: PMC9914752 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Loneliness is linked to many physiological and psychological issues and disproportionately affects older adults. Interpersonal goals (compassion and self-image) are essential to interpersonal relationships; however, how they relate to loneliness in older adults is unknown. We investigated the impact of interpersonal goals on loneliness using the Ecosystem-Egosystem Theory of Social Motivation. This study, adopting a descriptive cross-sectional correlational design, used data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study. Participants (n = 3212) included people aged >65 years (mean age: 75; female: 60.1%). We performed exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring and varimax rotation to examine the suitability of compassionate and self-image goals as separate factors. The complex samples general linear model was used to assess the relationship between loneliness and interpersonal goals. Interpersonal goals were significantly negatively associated with loneliness. Respondents with higher compassion and self-image goals reported lower loneliness levels. Our results contribute to understanding how interpersonal goals relate to loneliness in older adults. These initial findings warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jeffrey E. Stokes
- Department of Gerontology, McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA
| | - Laurie A. Theeke
- School of Nursing, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20006, USA
| | - Rick Zoucha
- School of Nursing, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
| | | | - Dinesh Sharma
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA
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Vaculíková J, Hanková M. Loneliness and Mental Health in Response to Early and Late COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study of Czech Adults Aged 50 and Over. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2023; 9:23337214231174129. [PMID: 37220473 PMCID: PMC10200707 DOI: 10.1177/23337214231174129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The unpredictable spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, national lockdowns, and public health measures implemented in the Czech Republic had a negative effect on older adults' mental health and loneliness. The 2,631 older adults in 2020 and 2,083 older adults in 2021 used in this study formed a nationally representative sample of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Almost every third older adult experienced feelings of loneliness in both stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. Loneliness increased in 2021 in those individuals who reported their physical health as poor, who felt nervous, sad or depressed, and who had ever left their home since the outbreak. According to age-related drivers of loneliness, feelings of loneliness were prevalent (40% vs. 45%) among younger retirees in both waves. In both data sets, declared feelings of sadness or depression were the strongest sustainable predictor of loneliness (2020 and 2021 models, OR = 3.69; 95% CI [2.90, 4.69] and OR = 2.55; [1.97, 3.30]). Being a woman and feeling nervous equated with a higher likelihood of feeling lonely compared to counterparts. Policy makers should therefore aim to carefully improve psychosocial and health-related consequences faced by this vulnerable population during the pandemic and beyond.
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Lee S. Loneliness, Volunteering, and Quality of Life in European Older Adults. ACTIVITIES, ADAPTATION & AGING 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/01924788.2022.2148408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sunwoo Lee
- The Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, Třída Míru 117, 771 11, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to examine the relationship between participation in volunteer work and loneliness among older adults, and to explore the mediating role of perceived control and perceived social self-efficacy in this association. METHOD This study was developed as a secondary data analysis using the data sampled from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study in USA. The sample comprised 9,944 individuals aged between 65 and 107 years (mean = 75.94, SD = 7.70; 59.4% females). Using a multi-item survey questionnaire, frequent participation in volunteer youth work and charity work, loneliness, perceived control, and social self-efficacy were assessed. To examine the mediating effects of perceived control and social self-efficacy on the association between volunteer work and loneliness, the bootstrapping technique was performed. RESULTS Two forms of volunteer works, namely, volunteer youth work and charity work, significantly predicted perceived control, social self-efficacy, and lower levels of loneliness. Perceived control and social self-efficacy appeared to significantly mediate the relationship between volunteer activities and loneliness. CONCLUSION The study's findings put forward a need to develop policy provisions that facilitate supporting systems and organizations for life-long education and recruitment of older volunteers. Community-based organizations should create and promote volunteer opportunities in older adults, thereby alleviating later-life loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunwoo Lee
- Philosophical Faculty, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
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Wester CT, Bovil T, Scheel-Hincke LL, Ahrenfeldt LJ, Möller S, Andersen-Ranberg K. Longitudinal changes in mental health following the COVID-19 lockdown: Results from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Ann Epidemiol 2022; 74:21-30. [PMID: 35660005 PMCID: PMC9159781 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2022.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Methods Results Conclusion
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Chen LK. Biopsychosocial Perspectives of Loneliness and Social Isolation. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2022; 100:104671. [DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Zafar J, Malik NI, Atta M, Makhdoom IF, Ullah I, Manzar MD. Loneliness may mediate the relationship between depression and the quality of life among elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Psychogeriatrics 2021; 21:805-812. [PMID: 34302412 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are often comorbid mental health issues in older adults. The current study explored the prospective mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between depression and the quality of life in elderly with MCI. A second aim was to examine differences in depression, loneliness, and the quality of life in the elderly with MCI among gender groups, and type of residence groups. METHODS A cross-sectional survey with purposive sampling was used. Older adults with MCI (N = 170) from old age homes in Lahore and Rawalpindi (n = 82) and family residences in Sargodha (n = 88) in Pakistan completed UCLA Loneliness Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and Mild Cognitive Impairment Scale. RESULTS Most of the participants had severe to extreme depression (98.2%), and moderate to moderately high levels of loneliness (85.3%). Depression was significantly associated with loneliness (b = 0.29, P < 0.05) and poor quality of life in MCI (b = 0.49, P < 0.001). The indirect effect of depression on the quality of life in MCI through loneliness was significant (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.002, 0.156]). However, the indirect effect of quality of life in MCI on depression through loneliness was not significant (95% CI [-0.001, 0.043]). The elderly with MCI living in old age homes had higher depression, loneliness, and poor quality of life. Elderly women had higher levels of depression and poor quality of life, whereas older men were lonelier. CONCLUSION The relationship between depression and quality of life in the elderly with MCI may be bidirectional, and loneliness partially mediates only one of these relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jawairia Zafar
- Department of Psychology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Najma Iqbal Malik
- Department of Psychology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Mohsin Atta
- Department of Psychology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | | | - Irfan Ullah
- Kabir Medical College, Gandhara University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Md Dilshad Manzar
- Department of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
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16
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Doseděl T, Menšíková T, Vidovićová L. Scaling Down the PGCM Scale to Assess Views on Ageing More Efficiently: Finding a New Alternative. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E9414. [PMID: 33334064 PMCID: PMC7765537 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study is to present a new and efficient way of measuring the quality of life among older populations, with special attention to morale, positive outlook on life and ageing. The measure is based on the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCM), originally consisting of 22 items. The growing numbers and proportions of older people among European populations has increased the need to obtain more reliable data on their needs, values, life experiences and overall quality of life. Using data from six surveys conducted in the Czech Republic, we have formulated a three-item positive outlook on life and ageing (POLA) scale. Our analyses are divided into three steps: (1) constructing the scale and testing its internal consistency; (2) testing the scale's external validity using mean comparisons and correlation coefficients; and (3) determining the factors affecting a positive outlook on later life, such as gender and education. We have confirmed that the three-item approach to measuring positive outlook on ageing as a part of morale is highly applicable to surveys, producing compelling results in assessing important quality-of-life sub-concepts, such as subjective health, subjective age, and loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Doseděl
- Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Joštova 10, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (T.M.); (L.V.)
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17
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Lee S. Subjective well-being and mental health during the pandemic outbreak: Exploring the role of institutional trust. Res Aging 2020; 44:10-21. [PMID: 33234059 DOI: 10.1177/0164027520975145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between material adversities due to pandemic crisis, institutional trust, and subjective well-being and mental health among middle-aged and older adults aged 50+ in Europe. The study used a cross-sectional design to examine Eurofound COVID-19 survey data collected from 27 European countries in April 2020. A total of 31,757 European middle aged and older adults aged 50 + were analyzed (Mean = 59.99, SD = 7.03). Analysis focused on the financial impact and material security in relation to pandemic lockdown, institutional trust (news media, police, national government, European Union, and healthcare system), and subjective well-being and mental health. Regression analysis indicated perceived insecurity in employment and housing, worsening finances, and difficulty paying for basic necessities were significantly related to respondents' life satisfaction, happiness, self-rated health, mental health index, and psychological distress. Institutional trust partially mediated the relationship between perceived adversities and subjective well-being and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunwoo Lee
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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